Trendy parents are picking neutral colors

Candy pink and baby blue will never be out of fashion for new babies. Still, some style-conscious parents are ditching gendered pastels and ruffles and choosing neutral colors and minimalist designs instead. Celebrities like Kylie Jenner and big-name influencers have taken to social media to show off impeccably decorated minimalist nurseries in shades of cream, beige, camel, and cocoa, with toys or books providing the only splashes of bright color.

One trendy mother of two explains that her entire house is decorated with neutrals, and she wanted her kids’ rooms to match the aesthetic. She combats stains on unforgiving beige fabrics with outdoor rugs and couches that are easy to wipe clean.

Neutrals are also having a moment in children’s clothing, with retailers like Baby Gap and Walmart covering racks and walls with mix-and-match pieces in gender-neutral beiges and browns.

Not everyone loves the neutral trend. Pediatric psychologist Ann-Louise Lockhart points out that bright colors help babies develop visual perception. And one California grandmother expresses her opinion in blunter terms: All of her granddaughter’s hair bows and clothes, she says, look exactly the same.